Waiver priority strategy question. (1 Viewer)

[CanaBuc]

In a league that uses rolling waivers, the first priority is relatively valuable. The main reason being, that unlike the draft, where there is still alot of unkonwn, the season has begun and one can have a better idea of the roles certain players will have, the chemistry with the QB, the OL blocking etc.

After week 1 (and there are still 2 games left) there were some breakout names:

Julius Thomas

Marlon Brown

Julian Edelman

Terrelle Pryor

Geno Smith?

DaRell Scott?

The question is, other than say Julius Thomas (who is rostered in many leagues and most teams in leagues have a good TE), would a first waiver priority be worth it on one of these guys or would it be better to hang onto it for better value that may crop up in coming weeks?

Would your opinion change if you were the Amendola owner? The Wilson owner with fumblitis?

If you owned Romo who might have injured his rib last night?

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Where it will be likely to improve my roster to do so, I err on the side of using the first (or second) waiver priority in Week 1 rather than waiting. The first couple of weeks are the most active in terms of waiver claims, so if you jump on someone this week from the #1 spot and get pushed to the back of the line right off the bat, you'll probably end up in no worse than 8th-9th position by the time Week 2 kicks off and most likely back in the top 5 by Week 3 (depending on how active your opponents are - it could be much higher or somewhat lower). If you wait until, say, Week 4 to use your #1 priority, it might take you twice as long to get back near the top.

Having said that, I don't see any names on this week's WW that I'd call a slam-dunk no-brainer for using your #1 on, apart from maybe Thomas (and even there I'd temper my expectations). Normally you get a couple of QB/RB studs going down with injuries in Week 1 where you can be relatively confident that his replacement will be an every-week starter - those are the kinds of guys worth spending a top waiver priority on. I just can't see myself saying the same about someone like Brown or Edelman.

 

[Leonidas]

So far I think I'll be sitting on my #1 wavier priority in my money Yahoo money league where I started David Wilson.

Nobody jumps out at me as a must have. Thomas is actually available (those are only 10 team leagues), but I have Graham.

I'm not sure how many people can truly justify their #1 waiver on anybody so far.

 

[tim_whatley]

I have the #1 spot, am super deep at WR and a little thin at RB. I am thinking about grabbing whoever the Giants sign at RB, esp if it is McGahee, and like was said above i suspect many others will take some of these WRs/TEs that did well and I will move back up quickly.

 

[CanaBuc]

Where it will be likely to improve my roster to do so, I err on the side of using the first (or second) waiver priority in Week 1 rather than waiting. The first couple of weeks are the most active in terms of waiver claims, so if you jump on someone this week from the #1 spot and get pushed to the back of the line right off the bat, you'll probably end up in no worse than 8th-9th position by the time Week 2 kicks off and most likely back in the top 5 by Week 3 (depending on how active your opponents are - it could be much higher or somewhat lower). If you wait until, say, Week 4 to use your #1 priority, it might take you twice as long to get back near the top.

Having said that, I don't see any names on this week's WW that I'd call a slam-dunk no-brainer for using your #1 on, apart from maybe Thomas (and even there I'd temper my expectations). Normally you get a couple of QB/RB studs going down with injuries in Week 1 where you can be relatively confident that his replacement will be an every-week starter - those are the kinds of guys worth spending a top waiver priority on. I just can't see myself saying the same about someone like Brown or Edelman.

That is my issue. Thomas is gone already. I own Amendola so Edelman is interesting buthave Austin Boldin Roberts and Vjax so I feel I can cover wr and flex if he doesnt play next game.

MY RB situation is more thin with Not much after Forte/Sjax. Have Fjax,Bryce Brown Montee Ball. Wish there was an Rb to pick up and feel I should save my ww priority for that

 

[CanaBuc]

So far I think I'll be sitting on my #1 wavier priority in my money Yahoo money league where I started David Wilson.

Nobody jumps out at me as a must have. Thomas is actually available (those are only 10 team leagues), but I have Graham.

I'm not sure how many people can truly justify their #1 waiver on anybody so far.

Were I in your league I would grab Thomas. I would then work out a trade giving up Thomas or Graham and get a a good/great player at a position of need.

Alas Thomas is gone in my league.

 

[CanaBuc]

I have the #1 spot, am super deep at WR and a little thin at RB. I am thinking about grabbing whoever the Giants sign at RB, esp if it is McGahee, and like was said above i suspect many others will take some of these WRs/TEs that did well and I will move back up quickly.

Moving up quickly is hard in a 12 team league. Discovered this last year when I had pick number 5. Made a waiver claim in week 1 or 2 not ever having used the rolling system before. The teams with high waiver claims pretty much hung onto them (they also were in good shape injury wise to start the year).

End result I was never able to get to first priority so had to plan my waiver claims 2 weeks in advance hoping my waiver pick would hit rather than pick up the obvious guy.

In my league there are not many good guys undrafted. TE there is maybe Celek. WR there is Edelman, Marlon Brown, RB there is Dwyer who just resigned with Pitt. Da'Rel Scott, Tolbert. Knile Davis if Jc was hurt.

In other words, no home runs with Edleman and Brown the best choices, but at my deepest position.

 

[BlueBlazer05]

I'm very thin at WR, so I'm gonna go ahead and use my #1 spot on Marlon Brown. Hankerson is available too, but that might be a mirage.

 

[Air Stich]

The #1 Waiver Priority is not as valuable as you are suggesting. I'd use it in a second on Julius Thomas. Who do you think is gonna be better than him throughout the year? And don't avoid a guy because you're already "super deep" at the position. Get value wherever and whenever you can.

I love playing with guys who sit on their priority. I claim people every week and they sit there waiting for some phantom RB1 to show up in week 8.

 

[Johnny Blood]

I have the #1 spot, am super deep at WR and a little thin at RB. I am thinking about grabbing whoever the Giants sign at RB, esp if it is McGahee, and like was said above i suspect many others will take some of these WRs/TEs that did well and I will move back up quickly.

I don't think you should do this. The Giants were already going to bring in veteran RBs after game 1 to hopefully improve on Wilson's backup. (Vet salaries aren't guaranteed if you sign after week 1.) This is fool's gold for a top waiver pick IMO. FA acquisition would be fine.

 

[CanaBuc]

The #1 Waiver Priority is not as valuable as you are suggesting. I'd use it in a second on Julius Thomas. Who do you think is gonna be better than him throughout the year? And don't avoid a guy because you're already "super deep" at the position. Get value wherever and whenever you can.

I love playing with guys who sit on their priority. I claim people every week and they sit there waiting for some phantom RB1 to show up in week 8.

sure but last year as an MJD owner with low waiver priority could not replace him. Eventually managed to swing a trade but it was rough not having RB depth.

Have depth at Wr and it is a position that has fewer injuries than RB...